One of the country's leading independent music conferences, Indie-Con Australia returns to Adelaide from 31 July to 2 August.
The three days of programming will see more than 80 industry figures – both international and national – discuss, debate and drive conversations related to the independent music sector in Australia across 18 panels and workshops."Thanks to the continued support of the South Australian Government's Music Development Office - South Australia, the 2024 Indie-Con programme will welcome a host of international and domestic speakers and will discuss challenges and opportunities faced by Australian independent labels and the music industry at large. . . and will be followed by MusicSA's Scouted, showcasing emerging and unsigned talent from South Australia's music scene."
The Indie-Con Australia Conference is staged alongside AIR's 2024 AIR Awards (1 August) that recognise, promote, and celebrate the success of Australia's independent music sector.
We continue our 2024 speaker profile series with Jessi Tillbrook, who runs and operates Kaurna Land-based record label, P.A.K. Records.
What do you do and why?
I run P.A.K. Records, an independent live events collective and record label based in Adelaide. P.A.K. is my creative outlet and my sense of community, two key reasons why I do what I do.
Who should be tuning into Indie-Con Australia?
If you consider yourself to be a part of the Australian independent music scene, and you're looking to up-skill in various facets of the industry, learn something new or perhaps about what's happening across the global indie music landscape, connect with like-minded people, or build your team as an artist/ music business, then Indie-Con is for you!
What are the rewarding aspects of working in the independent music sector?
Being constantly inspired when working alongside so many hard-working venues, promoters, managers, and other industry folk as well as working with artists to achieve their goals and aspirations, and of course unearthing great new music.
Australia's independent music sector; how vibrant is the scene compared to other parts of the world?
Being so geographically far from the rest of the world, we push ourselves in Australia to achieve great things as artists and industry practitioners to stand tall alongside other countries.
Generally speaking, particularly in the underground of Australian music, there is a vast scene of great experimentation and unique, creative and cultural expression happening that should be celebrated globally.
What are a couple of challenges currently facing independent artists in Australia?
The rising cost of touring at home and abroad, the increased closure of so many cherished venues around the country that have been breeding grounds for emerging artists, and the current state of our presale culture (or lack there-of!).
Indie-Con Australia takes place at Mercury Cinema (Adelaide) 31 July to 2 August.
Indie-Con Australia 2024 Speakers
Adam Noviello (artist)Alastair Burns (Heatstop Music)
Andrew Stone (Chugg Music)
Ash Hills (Unified)
Ash King (Support Act)
Blossom Rot Records
Bonnie Knight (producer)
Cam Price (Xelon)
Catherine Haridy (manager)
Chelsea Wilson (artist, House Of Valerie Joan)
Chris Cowburn (graphic designer)
Chris Maund (Mushroom Group)
Chris O'Neill (APRA AMCOS)
David Bridie (Wantok Musik Foundation)
Dean Ormston (APRA AMCOS)
Dona Inthaxoum (Meta)
Dylan Pellett (IMNZ)
Eden Sher (Blak Label Music)
Ellie Rumbold (Partisan Records)
Emma Bosworth (Green Music Australia)
Emma McGarry (Future Classic)
Emmy Feldman (Heavy Duty)
Genna Alexopoulos (Super Duper)
Georgia Mooney (artist)
Glenn Dickie (Sounds Australia)
Guy Blackman (Chapter Music)
Hayden Somerville (director)
Heath Bradby (Fidelty Corporation)
Henry Compton (FUGA, Downtown Music Group)
Irma Bolzonello (BG Private)
Ixara Dorizac (Anti-Dismal)
Jack Bergin (Void Of Vision)
Jessi Tilbrook (PAK Records)
Jim Romeo (Ground Control Touring)
Joe Alexander (Music In Exile)
Jordanne Chant (Dinosaur City)
Josh Pyke (PPCA)
Kate Lawrence (Unified)
Kirsty Rivers (Sound Story)
Laura Harper (Hush)
Leah Harris (Spotify)
Lisa Hresko (A2IM)
Lorrae McKenna (Our Golden Friend)
Luke Logemann (Green Music Australia)
Lynne Small (PPCA)
Mandi Mcintyre (QMusic)
Marcus Rowland (Outdustry)
Mardi Caught (The Annex)
Maria Amato (AIR)
Matt 'Footy' Horvath (Clarity Records)
Max Thomas (Secretly Group)
Michael Kucyk (Efficient Space)
Nicholas Pickard (APRA AMCOS)
Nicole Ficenec (Brilliant Corners)
Oscar Dawson (producer, artist)
Pippa Ryan-Kidd (IMNZ)
PNAU (artist)
Reggie Ba-Pe (AWZA)
Renee Barnes (The People Paradox)
Sarah Hamilton (Golden Hour)
Simran Pasricha (journalist, content creator)
Stephen King (Media Arts Lawyers)
Stuart Kennedy (ATC Live)
Tania Doko (artist)
Tilly Tjala Thomas (artist)
Tina Manolitsas (The Leaders Mentor)
Tom Iansek (producer, artist)
Tommy Faith (triple j)
Vanja Bezbradica (Spotify)
Yasmin Naghavi (Media Arts Lawyers)
